When exactly is it substance abuse? Substance abuse is defined as a dependency or an overindulgence of an addictive substance, whether it be illegal, like marijuana, or legal but used for the wrong reasons, like prescription drugs or inhalants like nail polish. Here are some signs that you or someone you know has a substance abuse problem, and what you can do about it.

How to spot it in your friends or family members

Are you unsure if your friend or family member has a substance abuse problem, but you want to help? Before you approach them, look for signs that they have a problem. Whether it be alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, or steroids, if they are abusing the substance, there will be signs of it.

Know that these signs don’t necessarily mean that someone has a substance abuse problem. They could be going through other problems at home or school, or they could have a health problem that you just don’t know about. Don’t jump to conclusions!

What the dangers are

Each substance has a long list of negative side effects- we’re not going to list all of them here, but here’s just a few to give you an idea:

Helpguide is an incredible resource, expanding on everything we’ve touched on here, and then some! Check it out.

How to get them help

If you think you’ve identified a substance abuse problem in your friend or family member, the next step is to talk to them about it and let them know that you are concerned and want to help. It’s definitely not an easy thing to do- often people will insist that their problem isn’t a big deal and won’t want to get help. But when you think of the alternatives- not speaking to them about it- it could mean a permanent change in your relationship. Sometimes the situation will get worse before it gets better, but the important thing is to take action now on their behalf.

First, try getting them to talk about it- maybe they were just waiting for the perfect opportunity to open up to someone. You might have to do a lot of the talking at first, so try and be encouraging. You're not there to judge them and tell them they are a bad person for choosing to do drugs, you're there to tell them that you care about them and you are worried about their health and well-being.

If it seems like it's an issue that is too big for you to handle on your own, ask if you can bring someone else into the picture- a parent, a family member, a teacher, a coach, or a guidance counselor, for example. They might have some great resources for you to look at or ideas of their own as to what you can do to help. There is tons of information on the web, too. Check out our own How To Talk to Friends and Family About Smoking and The Partnership for a Drug-Free America’s website about getting help for yourself and others.

Don't know where to go in your area? Click here to find a substance abuse treatment center near you.

In addition to information posted online, there are always hotlines you or your friend or family member can call to get help. This is a great way to get information and/or help anonymously from people who are used to dealing with these kinds of issues.

Hotline info

1.) National Alcohol Hotline

1-800-NCA-CALL

2.) National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Information

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

(240)-276-2000

www.samhsa.gov

Sources:

www.focusas.com

www.helpguide.org